An immigrant targeted in a Durham robbery died. Why 2 charged with murder got probation
Two people charged in the murder of a Durham man received suspended sentences this week after pleading guilty to reduced charges.
Khalil Knight, Kenneth Gibbs and Monet Wise had been smoking marijuana for about 24 hours on June 11, 2017, when they ran out of money and decided to find a Hispanic person to rob, a prosecutor said at Knight’s plea hearing in August.
Around 8 a.m. that day, Bernabe Dubon set out for a store to send money to family members outside the United States. The 62-year-old Dubon, who had four children and 12 grandchildren, was a teacher and a principal in his native Honduras but worked as a carpenter in North Carolina, The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun reported.
Knight, along with Wise and Gibbs, then ages 23 and 21, saw Dubon from their car and decided he would be the one, said Assistant District Attorney Kendra Montgomery-Blinn.
They turned the car around a corner, the prosecutor said. Knight got out and ran behind some houses to head his victim off.
Knight tried to rob Dubon, but he resisted.
Dubon reached in his wallet, which contained thousands of dollars for his relatives, and threw $20 at Knight, according to statements in court. He may have used a board to fight back.
Knight shot Dubon twice and ran back to the car, leaving the wallet and the $20, Montgomery-Blinn said.
A half-hour later police found Dubon shot in the foot and lower pelvis, dying from internal bleeding, on Fidelity Drive and Raynor Street near Wellons Village and Wheels Fun Park.
Addicted to cocaine
Knight, Gibbs and Wise drove around until police pulled them over around 3:30 p.m. that day. The car Knight was driving belonged to Gibbs’ sister, who had reported it stolen.
Knight’s attorney said during the August hearing that his client was addicted to cocaine and that the drug fueled him and his co-defendants.
“It was an insistent desire for more cocaine that led Ms. Wise to suggest a robbery and led Khalil to oblige her,” said attorney Christine Malumphy said.
After the killing, Knight, Wise and Gibbs were charged with first-degree murder and other charges.
In August, Knight pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 18 years to 23 years in prison on that charge and an additional five years to seven years on the other charges. Second-degree murder doesn’t include premeditation.
On Thursday, Wise and Gibbs pleaded guilty to attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy.
Both of their sentences were suspended in lieu of two years of supervised probation. If they violate the terms of the probation, Wise could serve about three years to seven years and Gibbs could serve about six years to eight years.
The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun weren’t present at the Thursday hearing, which wasn’t listed on the weekly Superior Court calendar. Sarah Willets, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office, said the hearing wasn’t scheduled until Wednesday.
Why plea deal was offered
WRAL reported that prosecutors offered a deal to the two defendants because they cooperated with investigators and are working to support their families.
The evidence showed Gibbs and Wise were part of planning the robbery, according to a statement from the District Attorney’s Office.
“They never possessed a weapon. They were around the corner when shots were fired and were not aware until police told them, that someone had died,” the statement said.
The DA’s Office worked closely with Dubon’s family “to reach a disposition in this case that was fair and in the interest of justice,” the statement said.
The conditions of their probation include not contacting Knight or Dubon’s family and participating in counseling and other programs.
Many factors were considered in Knight’s plea deal, Montgomery-Blinn said in August.
The ample evidence in the case included witnesses, statements from his co-defendants, surveillance video and Knight’s confession.
The deal considered that Knight targeted Dubon, was the leader of the group and brought the gun. Knight was also on probation for two felonies, the prosecutor said.
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 10:45 AM.
